Wednesday, 25 February 2015

LE MESNIL - BLANC DES BLANCS

Oh here we go again.
It has been a while since I wrote something for which I do apologise to my beloved reader. Every since I got a smart phone I rarely used the laptop that I used to have and thus did not really use a proper key board.
I admit that my Champagne intake diminished too, but I cannot say I have been entirely sober.
The usual dilemma is often exacerbated by an expectation that I am trying to meet, in fact more candidly, exceed.
It is my curse to have drunk so much. It is also the curse of drinking so much that what once seemed thrilling now seems ordinary.
I see no point in digging deep to discover why that is so, because what I am about to say is that I discovered an extremely reasonable but very nice, and at long last a 'classic' Champagne.
A stroke of folly, or luck, made me chose a bottle that looked rather dull. I bit the bullet and I was very impressed.
Because the village is so famous for its big Chardonnays I was expecting something with weight and quite ripe with good balance of sugars and acids. It was still a non-vintage so I had my raving reigned in.
On opening, all my expectations were met. The wine was big, bold, balanced, with character, aged in oak, elegant, seductive and marvellous to drink. I sighed of relief that this was, at last, A CLASSIC Champagne. Toasty notes mingling with candied fruits, yet on the palette lively acids added to elegance, making it luscious.
I have not had one for a while so I think I should go back, get a bottle and see how I feel about it now.
p.